Farmers Markets

Farmers Markets have, for the most part, replaced the old road-side stands that once dotted the country sides.  Oh, I’m not saying that you can’t still find road-side stands, but farmers markets have made it so much more convenient and do not require us to burn up $10 in gas to pick up a few dollars worth of fresh fruits and vegetables.

There was a time when not only did we patronize road-side stands to find freshly picked fruits and vegetables, but to save a few dollars in the process.  Today, more and more health conscious consumers seek out Farmers Markets for not just freshness, but for organically grown produce.  You don’t always save a lot over the big box grocery stores, but its nice to get fruits and vegetables that were just picked from the garden within hours.

Today’s Farmers Markets have spawned Open Markets, which in addition to the usual fruits and vegetables, may include a variety of crafts and prepared foods.  In recent years, some of these markets have become “events”, with vendors and visitors growing in numbers and as such, the selection of what’s available likewise expanding.

Farmers Markets Bring the Country to the City

There are even Farmers Markets springing up in unlikely locations, like on the top of the Royal Hawaiian Center, which started up recently, or the City Hall People’s Open Market on the parking lot deck.  Even the Ala Moana Shopping Center is the site for a Saturday Farmers Market.  No longer a need to take a ride out to the country side as they bring the country to you.

There are dozens of Farmers Markets that set up island-wide, every day of the week.  Sometimes, its only twice-a-month, sometimes its two or three times a week, but most are held weekly, since many of the same vendors set up at multiple locations.   Many of these locations were started up and are managed by the parks and recreations department.

Some Farmers Markets Can Be Fleeting!

Some locations operate all day or half-a-day, but many for only an hour, like these:

• Ewa Beach Community Park
• Halawa District Park
• Hawaii Kai Park-n-Ride
• Kailua District Park
• Kaneohe District Park
• Makiki District Park
• Manoa Valley District Park
• Old Stadium Park
• Palolo Valley District Park
• Queen Kapiolani Park
• Wahiawa District Park
• Waiau District Park
• Waikele Community Park
• Waimanalo Beach Park and
• Waipahu District Park

There are even a few that operate for only 45 minutes!  They include the aforementioned City Hall People’s Open Market, as well as:

• Kalihi Valley District Park
• Mililani District Park
• Mother Waldron Park
• Pokai Bay Beach Park and
• Salt Lake Municipal Lot.

More info on specific days and times can be found at www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/programs/pom.

Ono Food, Not Just Produce

While some of these markets are fairly new, some have been around for years and have loyal customers.  One of the most well known and attended is the Saturday Farmers Market at Kapiolani Community College, known as much for its great food as for the produce.

A relatively newcomer to this emphasis on food is the Kailua Thursday Night Farmers Market, which has become a very popular destination for many of Oahu’s food-truck vendors.  If you haven’t frequented the many food trucks found in and around Honolulu lately, it may surprise you to see that the menus have expanded way beyond the typical shoyu chicken, teriyaki steak, or chicken katsu, that until a few years ago, defined food-truck fare.

More Farmers Markets

If no website is given for a particular market, info can be found at www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/programs/pom.

• Banyan Court Mall, 800 North King St.
• Benjamin Parker Elementary School, Kaneohe
• Country Market & Craft Fair, Waimanalo Homestead Community College, no website (Call Paul Richards 808-225-4002)
• Davies Pacific Center, 841 Bishop St., no contact info given, held on 2nd and 4th Tues
• Ewa Beach Elementary School Farmers Market, 91-740 Papipi Rd., Sundays, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
• First Insurance Center, 1100 Ward Ave., no contact info given, held on 1st and 3rd Wed
• Fort Street near Wilcox Park (in front of Macy’s)
• Haleiwa Farmers Market, Kam Hwy & Joseph P. Leong By-pass
• Hawaii Kai Farmers Market, Kaiser High School
• Hawaii Kai Towne Center, Kalanianaole Hwy at Keahole St., no website given, 808-396-0766
• Honolulu Farmers’ Market, Neal S. Blaisdell Center (Ward & Kapiolani)
• International Marketplace, Waikiki
• Kahaluu Farmers Market, Windward Baptist Church, Kamehameha Hwy.
• Kailua Elementary School , Saturday evenings, 4:00-8:00 pm
• Kakaako Makai Community Cultural Marketplace, 1 blk makai or Ala Moana Blvd & Ward Ave.
• Kalihi Farmers Market, Kapalama Elementary School
• Kapolei People’s Open Market, Kapolei Community Park
• Kaumualii Street People’s Open Market, Kalihi St.
• King’s Village Shopping Center, 131 Kaiulani Ave.
• Mahiku Farmers Market (aka International Marketplace)
• Mahiku Farmers Market, Momilani Community Center, Pearl City
• Makeke Kapolei, Kapolei High School, no website, call 808-697-3599
• Makiki Local Grown Farmers Market at St. Clemmons Church, 1515 Wilder Ave.
• Manoa Marketplace, 2752 Woodlawn Dr., no website, call 808-847-0494/cell 808-554-4667
• Merchant Street Market, 841 Bishop St.
• The Millilani Sunday Farmers Market at Millilani High School, Millilani
• North Shore Country Market, Sunset Beach Elementary School, Haleiwa
• Nuuanu Farmers Market, Honolulu Central Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2313 Nuuanu Ave.  (Opens late March), no website, Carol Rose: rose46@yahoo.com
• Queens Medical Center, 1301 Punchbowl St., no website, 1st Wed
• Restaurant Row Farmers Market, 500 Ala Moana Blvd
• Royal Kunia Park-n-Ride, Waipahu
• Waialua Farmers Market, Waialua Sugar Mill, no website, email: info@sugarmillhawaii.com
• Waianae Farmers Market, Waianae High School, Cafeteria lanai
• Waikiki Farmers Market, Waikiki Community Center, no website, 808-923-1802
• Ward Center, parking lot across from Ward 16 Theatres
• Windward Mall, Kamehameha Hwy, Kailua

Yes, there are a lot of Farmers Markets held on Oahu everyday of the week.  So, if you haven’t yet discovered this great resource, you should check them out.

 

 

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